Due June 24 💚 - Part 2

[oop]

Thought I'd make a new thread before the old one filled up completely.

Into the second trimester and beyond 😊

Happy Monday, how’s everyone doing? Feeling glum today after barely any sleep this weekend and return of nausea today. But I keep trying to perk myself up by thinking of little one.
we have our 16 week midwife appointment tomorrow, does anyone know if we’ll get to hear the heartbeat ?

I'm starting to get my energy back (17 weeks now) and only being sick every few days, which is a great improvement! Think I'm starting to feel some flutters too which is really exciting 😊

@DanisEndo a check on the heartbeat wasn't offered at my 16 week appointment in either of my pregnancies, and that's in two different areas. But I've seen plenty of people on here say they were offered it so I don't know why it seems to vary so much 🤷🏼‍♀️

@GeeinItLaldyX what a rollercoaster of emotion you must have had. Glad everything seems to be ok in the end and hoping you've been able to rest and recover.

@Wheeeeee its so confusing how much everything varies area to area! I’ll keep my fingers crossed I suppose

Had my 20 week scan today! Baby is healthy and measuring spot on so we’re all chuffed!

awful to hear that some of your nausea is back. I can hugely sympathise with the lack of sleep. I keep waking in the night!

How is everyone getting on with being active? I’m walking lots and doing yoga but not sure that’s enough?

@cosylife I'm really struggling with activity to be honest, as doing too much really makes my nausea and sickness worse. I've just started back at Pilates after having to take quite a few weeks off due to the sickness, and I've also started being able to walk more. But definitely nothing like my usual activity levels - I already feel like I've lost so much fitness.

The midwife listened to the heartbeat at my 16 week appointment. The obstetrician also listened to the heartbeat when I was 14 weeks.

It was amazing to hear it but I'm not sure whether being consultant led meant the midwife listened to mine or whether they do that as standard for everyone. I assume the latter is more likely as if they have the equipment for high risk ladies they may as well just listen to the heartbeats of all of their patients.

@DanisEndo I just asked at the 16 weeks apt. They said they don’t offer it but if people ask she’s happy to try, with the caveat that if she can’t find it it doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. She also explained that’s why they don’t bring it up or offer it themselves as lots of women panic. Obviously yours may say differently, but mine was more than happy to do it once I asked.

I got to listen to the heartbeat at my obstetrician and 16 week midlife appointments. I assume it varies.

Has anyone had their 20 week scan appointment come through? I'm 17+4 but not had a letter yet. Already got a fetal medicine appointment for 23 weeks though. And next midwife and obstetrician appointments in March. 🤷‍♀️

Good luck with your appointment @DanisEndo! I'm another one here who did get to hear the heartbeat at my 16 week appointment.

@cosylife I was still running (slowly) at Parkrun until the New Year but I was starting to struggle so I'm just walking it now. Trying to do a brisk treadmill walk a couple of times a week after work, a pre-natal Pilates class weekly and once my new maternity swimsuit arrives I'll add in a swim or two per week.

thanks everyone for the insights! Ill defo ask if they don’t mention it and just hope 🤞🏻🤞🏻

my activity hasn’t been great. Still on dog walks daily although a bit slower. I used to open water swim but the temp drop isn’t advised during pregnancy so I’ve not been since finding out and am really missing it. Thinking I might try and get some pool dips in but going to need to get a new swim suit.

we started a hypnobirthing course recently and have found it useful so far! Anyone else starting to prepare for the arrival?

Is anyone considering hypnobirthing?

We've signed up for a course in March. So many friends have recommended it so we thought we'd give it a go (and hopeful we'll meet some people through it too. DH is keen for Dad mates!).

What courses have people gone for? All my friends have said they didn’t get anything out of nct except the social aspect, but then for a lot of them, most of them even, they didn’t keep in touch anyway. It seems like a lot of time and money to spend when we have so much other stuff to do and buy. I looked at hypnobirthing but there aren’t many around here and the one that is seems very much about c sections are a failure and you shouldn’t feel any pain during birth if you do it ‘properly’ and I can’t really get on board with that.
there’s a small local class that covers birth, breast feeding and things like that but it’s £250 for 4 sessions, and I’m wondering if I can just YouTube whatever they’d say!

I'm trying to keep up with my weekly gym class, just doing less high impact and not doing the crunches part. I feel super old and slow this pregnancy, so hoping keeping up the class will help me get though the next 5 months, labour and recovery !!

I'm desperate to find am in person hypnobirthing class, but they just don't seem to exist anymore ! I did one with my daughter at it helped labour so much, especially for what my partner could do to help me get through contractions. We'd both totally forgotten it all by the time I went into labour with my little boy, even though it wasn't too long after 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'm finding I still have to rest for a good part of the day because everything makes me tired and sore ! Not as bad as the feeling rough of first trimester though...

@DanisEndo I heard the heartbeat at my 16 week appointment, but sounds like it depends where you are.

Just had my 20 week scan and everything is looking good, but the baby wasn't in a good position for pictures! We've decided to keep the sex a surprise.

I try to get out for a short walk every day, I've started swimming and do a bit of yoga at home. But I've found if I walk too far or too fast I get achey under my bump like stretched muscles.

I was wondering if there were hospital antenatal classes (hopefully free), my friend mentioned that's what she did.

I follow The Baby Academy on instagram and I signed up for a free breastfeeding class and it was so interesting. I’ve signed up for a different topic next week. It’s all on zoom with camera and microphone off so not any good for socialising but I found it really helpful! Probably a bit early to be doing them but I was worried they wouldn’t release more dates!

Do you know what I'm thinking I will just use YouTube for any helpful hypnobirthing and breathing techniques rather than do a course. I've already watched a few of the positive birth experience videos on YouTube and they have been helpful! They're free

@Suchardchoccy have you looked at the Positive Birth Company digital course at all? I got a lot from it first time round and liked that you can work through it at your own pace, at home, and with your birth partner. They often have good offers on the digital packs too 🙂

I did NCT the first time round. It was good, I found it helpful. The social aspect was nice too although it was all online (COVID) so we were actually quite spread out which wasn't very practical for meeting up afterwards. Met a couple of times and I've stayed in touch with one other mum. It is pricey though.

I also did an online hypnobirthing thing which was helpful. Some of it was a bit woo for me but the breathing techniques were very helpful in actual labour.

I've started getting Braxton hicks contractions. I had them this early with my first too but I forgot how strange they are!

@bravinglife yes! Thinking about it but might wait for an offer on the price

We have signed up for the NCT. We don't have any friends or family nearby. They're all 3.5 hours or more away. So, we're hoping the NCT will help with the social part and the lessons will hopefully also be useful.

I was hoping to do the NHS classes as well but the midwife said not to bother as they're all on zoom still and she said the NCT will cover everything.

Were doing the positive birth company online hypnobirthing course as had heard good things and it was affordable. Soo far so good!

I think I’ve discounted nct it’s just so pricey.

has anyone ever used peanut for the social aspect?

I had my first bracton hicks today! Had my hand on my wee bump and it just seized up and went solid! At first I wasn’t sure if it was just a big old kick but it sort of spasmed for a few mins and then softened again! Was very weird! 🤣

We're not mainland UK so slightly different set up here.

We're doing the free 6 week antenatal course that our health authority offer and an (expensive!) in person hypnobirthing course but it comes highly recommended.

We did the NCT course the first time around. 3 of us are now having our second baby around the same time. I see some of them on an almost weekly basis and the dads all still meet up too. It was great for me as I was new to the area.